The story of an unforgettable new hero who saves the world...by accident.

"A fast-paced thriller about an unlikely hero who gets involved with loyal knights, deadly assasins on Suzukis, helicopter gunships, a Ferrari Enzo, and -- oh, yeah -- a plot to take over the world with King Arthur's sword, Excalibur." - Jon Scieszka, author of Guys Write For Guys Read

Within the sanctuary of a loving family, baby Eli is born and, as he grows, "learns to cherish the people and places around him, and eventualy passes on what he has discovered to his new baby sister, Sylvie. Whether focusing on a single, aging turtle or depicting a sweeping panorama, the artwork in this book is phenomenal. The paintings convey the splendor of nature, as well as the deep affection that binds three generations. This book is a timeless, uplifting portrait of rural family life.

Told in the voice of a child who lives on a farm with his parents and grandparents, the story begins on the day of the boy's birth, when his grandmother holds him up to the open window. The first sound he hears is the wind. Then he sees all the places to love: the valley, the river falling down over rocks, the hilltop where the blueberries grow. The child introduces readers to the spots that each person in his family loves best. For his mom it’s the hilltop where the sky is "an arm's length away". For his grandfather, it’s the dark, cool barn where "the soft sound of cows chewing makes all the difference in the world". The boy eventually reveals his favorite place of all--the marsh "where ducklings follow their mother like tiny tumbles of leaves."